Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Seatrade Cruise, part of Informa Markets, have announced a planned leadership progression reflecting continued collaboration and alignment across the global cruise industry.
As part of this next phase, Chiara Giorgi will join CLIA as senior vice president, partnership & membership strategy, effective June 15, 2026—transitioning from her current role on May 15, 2026, as global brand & event director at Seatrade Cruise, where she has led the strategic direction and development of the cruise industry’s leading global events portfolio. In this role, she will lead CLIA’s global efforts to expand membership, strengthen strategic partnerships, and advance long-term growth.
Giorgi brings extensive experience to CLIA from her leadership role with Seatrade Cruise and Informa Markets, where she has been working closely with stakeholders across the cruise ecosystem. After earning her B.S. in Marketing and Accounting from Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management, her first encounter working in the cruise industry was onboard Silversea ships. She subsequently held senior roles in international event management and marketing across London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Giorgi’s appointment follows the decision announced last year by Karyn Gruenberg, senior vice president, membership & enterprise development at CLIA, to retire in June 2026. Following her decision, Gruenberg has continued to lead the organization’s membership and partner strategy, while intentionally supporting a smooth transition and positioning the organization for continued success.
Gruenberg joined CLIA in 2023, bringing extensive experience in global marketing, partnerships, and business development. Prior to CLIA, she served as senior vice president of partner marketing and strategic alliances at Brand USA, where she played a key role in building one of the travel industry’s most successful public-private partnerships. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles across destination marketing and major events, with a consistent focus on building high-impact partnerships and driving measurable growth, driving many industry firsts for destinations and travel brands along the way.
During her time at CLIA, Gruenberg has led a meaningful transformation of the organization’s membership and executive partner programs—strengthening engagement, significantly improving retention, including introducing new engagement models, refreshing key programs and events, and enhancing both the scale and strategic value of partnerships across the cruise ecosystem, while expanding revenue streams to support CLIA’s core mission and greatly increasing value to members.
“Karyn has played a pivotal role in transforming our membership and partner engagement model,” said Bud Darr, president & CEO of CLIA. “Her leadership has strengthened engagement, driven meaningful growth, and built a strong foundation that positions CLIA well for the future. We are grateful for her contributions and for her critical leadership role in helping to position the organization for this next phase.”
Building on the foundation established by Gruenberg, Giorgi will be responsible for enterprise-wide membership strategy, development, and partner engagement.
“Chiara brings a strong global perspective and deep industry experience that builds on that momentum,” Darr added. “Her ability to connect stakeholders across the industry will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen member value, expand partnerships, and advance our work across the cruise community.”
Mary Bond, group portfolio director of Seatrade Cruise, added: “Chiara has been an exceptional leader and colleague, whose vision and dedication have been integral to the success of Seatrade Cruise. While we will miss her presence on the team, we are pleased she will continue to work closely with us through her new role at CLIA. Her passion for the industry and commitment to collaboration will continue to benefit the broader cruise community.”
As part of this transition, the following changes within the Seatrade Cruise team will become effective May 1, 2026:
- Emma Bond, who has worked at Seatrade Cruise since 2013, will be promoted to event director, responsible for the day-to-day management and success of the Seatrade Cruise global events portfolio
- Jacqui Pressinger, who joined the team in 2024, will be promoted to senior relationship manager, responsible for expanding buyer relationships and partnerships across Seatrade Cruise events
In July 2025, Seatrade Cruise, CLIA, and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) extended their longstanding collaboration through a 10-year agreement focused on fostering innovation, sustainability, and growth across the global cruise industry. As part of this agreement, the organizations are partnering on a portfolio of world-class events, including Seatrade Cruise Global (scheduled this year from 12-16 April 2026 in Miami, Fla.)—the industry’s premier annual business-to-business gathering—along with additional initiatives that bring together cruise lines, destinations, suppliers, and stakeholders from across the global cruise ecosystem. Together, the organizations are committed to strengthening industry alignment and supporting sustainable and responsible industry growth.
For more information on Seatrade Cruise Events, visit www.seatradecruiseevents.com or get in touch with the Seatrade Cruise Team at [email protected]
Related Stories
Royal Caribbean Launches Royal One, Royal One Plus Credit Cards
TSA Pay Resumes, but Spring Break Delays are Still Expected
ASTA Partnership Supports Employees During Government Shutdown
Avoya Travel Announces Leadership Additions and Restructuring
Source link
